Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Have you got color in your cheeks?
Do you ever get that fear that you can't shift the type
That sticks around like summat in your teeth?
Are there some aces up your sleeve?
Have you no idea that you're in deep?
I've dreamt about you nearly every night this week
How many secrets can you keep?
'Cause there's this tune I found
That makes me think of you somehow and I play it on repeat
Until I fall asleep, spillin' drinks on my settee
(Do I wanna know?) If this feelin' flows both ways?
(Sad to see you go) was sorta hopin' that you'd stay
(Baby, we both know) that the nights were mainly made
For sayin' things that you can't say tomorrow day
Crawlin' back to you
Ever thought of callin' when
You've had a few?
'Cause I always do
Maybe I'm too
Busy bein' yours
To fall for somebody new
Now, I've thought it through
Crawlin' back to you
So have you got the guts?
Been wonderin' if your heart's still open
And if so, I wanna know what time it shuts
Simmer down an' pucker up, I'm sorry to interrupt
It's just I'm constantly on the cusp of tryin' to kiss you
I don't know if you feel the same as I do
But we could be together if you wanted to
(Do I wanna know?) If this feelin' flows both ways?
(Sad to see you go) was sorta hopin' that you'd stay
(Baby, we both know) that the nights were mainly made
For sayin' things that you can't say tomorrow day
Crawlin' back to you (crawlin' back to you)
Ever thought of callin' when
You've had a few? (You've had a few)
'Cause I always do ('cause I always do)
Maybe I'm too (maybe I'm too busy)
Busy bein' yours (bein' yours)
To fall for somebody new
Now, I've thought it through
Crawlin' back to you
(Do I wanna know?) If this feelin' flows both ways?
(Sad to see you go) was sorta hopin' that you'd stay
(Baby, we both know) that the nights were mainly made
For sayin' things that you can't say tomorrow day
(Do I wanna know?) Too busy bein' yours to fall
(Sad to see you go) ever thought of callin', darlin'?
(Do I wanna know?) Do you want me crawlin' back to you?
Do you ever get that fear that you can't shift the type
That sticks around like summat in your teeth?
Are there some aces up your sleeve?
Have you no idea that you're in deep?
I've dreamt about you nearly every night this week
How many secrets can you keep?
'Cause there's this tune I found
That makes me think of you somehow and I play it on repeat
Until I fall asleep, spillin' drinks on my settee
(Do I wanna know?) If this feelin' flows both ways?
(Sad to see you go) was sorta hopin' that you'd stay
(Baby, we both know) that the nights were mainly made
For sayin' things that you can't say tomorrow day
Crawlin' back to you
Ever thought of callin' when
You've had a few?
'Cause I always do
Maybe I'm too
Busy bein' yours
To fall for somebody new
Now, I've thought it through
Crawlin' back to you
So have you got the guts?
Been wonderin' if your heart's still open
And if so, I wanna know what time it shuts
Simmer down an' pucker up, I'm sorry to interrupt
It's just I'm constantly on the cusp of tryin' to kiss you
I don't know if you feel the same as I do
But we could be together if you wanted to
(Do I wanna know?) If this feelin' flows both ways?
(Sad to see you go) was sorta hopin' that you'd stay
(Baby, we both know) that the nights were mainly made
For sayin' things that you can't say tomorrow day
Crawlin' back to you (crawlin' back to you)
Ever thought of callin' when
You've had a few? (You've had a few)
'Cause I always do ('cause I always do)
Maybe I'm too (maybe I'm too busy)
Busy bein' yours (bein' yours)
To fall for somebody new
Now, I've thought it through
Crawlin' back to you
(Do I wanna know?) If this feelin' flows both ways?
(Sad to see you go) was sorta hopin' that you'd stay
(Baby, we both know) that the nights were mainly made
For sayin' things that you can't say tomorrow day
(Do I wanna know?) Too busy bein' yours to fall
(Sad to see you go) ever thought of callin', darlin'?
(Do I wanna know?) Do you want me crawlin' back to you?
Lyrics submitted by gemmalouise89, edited by lockergr, nancymck, gracezoe, MashaM, SteveMurf, jamesh37, Itey, Jaceofpcb, Percythegoat, RayOfDarkness, TeddyStorm, azzyxx, jayjodelein, arctlcm0nkeyz, Mienie, BobTheRhino, almaluz, gifoverit, indieflower, Hancockenstein, oliviagilmorem
Do I Wanna Know? Lyrics as written by Alex Turner
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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I think this is a tale of a person who broke up with someone they figured they'd move on easily from only to realise the grass wasn't greener. Now it's the question if its possible to get the ex back but is terrified the obvious answer will be no so he/she wonders if its even worth knowing.
"Have you got colour in your cheeks?" - is the ex in love with someone new (blushing red cheeks for newly smitten) "You ever get that fear........something in your teeth?" - does the ex ever think they can't move on cause you're missing the old relationship "Are there some aces up your sleeve?" - is the ex a different person, have they moved on? (perhaps assumes initially when breaking up the ex would have a tough time coming to terms with it but is doing much better than he/she is)
"Crawling back to you" - acting in desperation for forgiveness "Do you want me crawling back to you" - is that what it takes for a second chance "Have you got the guts?" - is the ex brave enough to give that person a 2nd chance after last time (never go back as they say) "If your hearts still open?" - are they still in that place before he/she left them "What time it shuts" - is there time to convince them they should get back together if the ex still has them feelings "Have you no idea that you're in deep?" - does the ex realise how much they are missed "How many secrets can you keep?" - suppressed feelings they've for the ex which he/she hasn't shared with any of his/hers friends/family
I think his/her regret has been on their mind for sometime but reaches breaking point at some sort of coincidental rendezvous with the ex
"Tune I've found that makes me think of you somehow and I play it on repeat" - stays up late thinking of the ex" "Sad to see you go, sorta hoping you'd stay" - the ex is not phased by the encounter but he/she is desperate to talk to them "Constantly on the cusp of trying to kiss you" - a surge of old feelings, nostalgic of being able to kiss the ex when ever you wanted "The night was made for saying things we can't say tomorrow day" - kinda reflects the coincidental encounter, won't have this opportunity tomorrow